Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 166 Blood Puppet

A black SUV sped along the highway late at night, its engine roaring jarringly in the silent city. Bai Yu sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the distance. That should have been the location of the Nightmare Investigation Bureau's Linjiang headquarters, but now, the magnificent building was completely swallowed by a thick, dark red mist.

From a distance, the headquarters looked like a giant heart wrapped in a blood-red cocoon, beating slightly to some eerie rhythm.

"Old Bai, the red fog is still rising." Mo Fei's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. He didn't curse loudly as usual; his tone was so calm it was oppressive. He knew very well that this concentration of red fog meant the headquarters' defensive array had completely collapsed, and his colleagues inside were probably in grave danger.

Lance sat in the back seat, two spare micro-terminals resting on his lap. Complex data streams flickered on his glasses, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“The main AI at headquarters, ‘Athena,’ has gone offline.” Lan Ce’s voice was a little hoarse. “All the external sensors have failed, and I can only barely see the internal outline through satellite thermal imaging. The group of inspectors that Shen Ling brought in, their vital signs… have all disappeared.”

"All of them?" Mo Fei's eye twitched.

“Yes.” Lan Ce pushed up his glasses, his fingers flying across the keyboard. “Not only have their vital signs disappeared, but their energy responses are also undergoing a mutation. According to the model, they are being transformed into some kind of… puppets centered around the Red Silk Rule. Bai Yu, this is very similar to the headless opera troupe we encountered in the old street, but this one is much larger in scale.”

Bai Yu remained silent. The black runes on his left hand were now burning hot, and the whispers in his mind grew clearer and clearer, carrying an almost frenzied joy.

“Look, my friend,” Hei Yan exclaimed elegantly, “this is the art of the mountain god. It has transformed your most prized fortress into a magnificent hall. Those who have died are its carefully selected guests.”

"Shut up," Bai Yu coldly replied in her heart.

The SUV stopped 500 meters from the headquarters gate. The road ahead was blocked by a dense array of red silk ribbons, which emerged from the ground and twisted in the air as if they were alive, forming an insurmountable barrier.

The three got out of the car and checked their equipment in unison.

“A frontal breakout is impossible.” Mo Fei looked down at the red silk barrier. He didn’t impulsively swing his axe to chop it down, but carefully observed the rhythm of the silk. “These things have strong causal binding rules. Once touched, they will be marked as ‘sacrifices.’ Lao Bai, shall we go through the ventilation tunnel?”

Bai Yu nodded: "The exhaust duct is on the north side of headquarters, which connects to the backup power room. Lan Ce, can you hack into the local area network?"

“Physical contact is required.” Lan Ce took out a specially made signal connector from his bag. “As long as we can get into the power room, I can restart some of the backup surveillance, at least let us know the captain and Yue Qi’s exact location.”

Under the cover of darkness, the three quickly moved northward.

The headquarters walls were covered with dark red moss, and a strong stench of blood filled the air. Bai Yu walked at the front, her red umbrella slightly open, dark light swirling along its edge, quietly dissolving the faint red mist that was encroaching from the surroundings.

Mo Fei followed closely behind, his two battle axes still sheathed, but his body was always in a state of explosive power. He presented a very positive image, with a calm gaze, and every step he took was within the safe zone left by Bai Yu, while he vigilantly observed his rear and flanks.

They quickly located the concealed vent. Mo Fei stepped forward, pressing his hands against the heavy alloy fence, his muscles bulging slightly. Instead of using brute force to dismantle it, he precisely located the fence's stress points and used subtle strength to slowly push it open, without making a single harsh friction sound.

"Go in," Mo Fei gestured in a low voice.

The passageway was narrow and damp, filled with the smell of corroded metal. Lan Ce led the way in the middle, using a miniature detector. Bai Yu brought up the rear, feeling a constant, faint vibration emanating from the exhaust pipe walls.

Those were footsteps.

Heavy, mechanical, and uniform footsteps.

"They are searching for survivors," Bai Yu's voice came through the communication channel.

After sneaking around for about ten minutes, they finally reached the exit of the backup power room. Lancer gently pushed open the barrier, and after confirming it was safe, the three of them filed in.

The power supply room was a mess. Several investigators in maintenance uniforms lay on the ground, their chests pierced by a thick red thread, their bodies desiccated like mummies.

Lancer had no time for grief. He rushed to the central control panel and plugged the connector into the backup port.

"Establishing connection... bypassing firewall... accessing backup monitoring."

The screen flickered a few times, and several blurry images appeared.

One scene shows countless red ribbons hanging from the ceiling in the central hall of the headquarters. A huge red round table is placed in the center of the hall, and "people" are sitting around the table.

Those were all members of the Supervision Department, including Shen Ling.

Shen Ling sat in the main seat, his head newly woven and somewhat distorted, a stiff smile on his face. He held a knife and fork, elegantly cutting a piece of...dark red meat from his plate.

“They’re having a pre-wedding dinner.” Lance’s voice trembled slightly.

"Where's the captain?" Bai Yu asked.

Lan Ce quickly switched the camera's view. Finally, outside the isolation room in the medical area, they saw An Mu.

Captain Anmu knelt on the ground, the golden "Iron Wall Royal Authority" domain had shrunk to a radius of three meters. Inside the domain, several lightly injured medics and investigators huddled together in terror.

At the edge of the domain, countless red threads were frantically crashing against the golden barrier. With each impact, An Mu's face paled a little more.

"The captain is nearing his limit." Mo Fei clenched his fist. "Old Bai, we have to get there right away."

"Wait a little longer." Bai Yu stared at the corner of the screen.

There, Lu Yueqi stood quietly.

She wore a blood-red wedding dress and held a comb made of white bone in her hand, slowly combing her long hair. Her movements were elegant and mysterious, and her once clear eyes were now as deep as the sea, revealing a cold indifference that looked down on all living beings.

"She's not Yueqi anymore," Bai Yu said softly. His heart ached, but reason forcefully suppressed the emotion.

“No, she’s still here.” Lan Ce pointed to a data indicator on the screen. “Although Yue Qi’s mental fluctuations are weak, they haven’t disappeared. The Mountain God hasn’t completely devoured her; it’s waiting… waiting for you, Bai Yu, the ‘groom,’ to arrive and complete the final fusion ritual.”

“Then let’s give it a surprise.” Bai Yu turned her gaze back to Mo Fei and Lan Ce. “Lan Ce, you stay here and use the control of the backup power room to create chaos in the headquarters’ defense system. Mo Fei, come with me to meet the captain.”

"Understood." Mo Fei nodded vigorously.

The two quickly left the power room and rushed into the corridor leading to the medical area.

The lights in the corridor flickered, and the floor was covered with a thick layer of red slime. With each step, a nauseating, sticky sensation spread underfoot.

"Click...click..."

From around the corner ahead, came the sound of bones twisting.

A puppet dressed in a Ministry of Supervision uniform stepped out. It was one of Shen Ling's subordinates; Bai Yu remembered him as a very energetic young man. But now, his eyes were empty, and his mouth was sewn into a bizarre curve by red threads.

Upon seeing Bai Yu and the other person, the puppet let out a piercing shriek and lunged forward, its body contorted in a posture that no human could possibly perform.

"Mo Fei, don't kill him, sever his limbs!" Bai Yu ordered.

"Roger that!"

Mo Fei moved with lightning speed, his battle axe tracing two precise arcs in the air. He didn't use the high-frequency cutting function of the blade, but instead relied on the impact force from the back and side edges of the axe.

"Boom! Boom!"

Two muffled thuds followed as the puppet's knees and elbows were precisely shattered. The puppet crashed heavily to the ground, yet still tried to crawl forward with its torso.

Bai Yu stepped forward and slammed his left hand down on the back of the puppet's head.

Analysis: Block!

Black runes flashed, and the red threads inside the puppet's body snapped instantly. The puppet went limp and fell into a deep coma.

“I can’t save everyone, but at least I can free them,” Bai Yu muttered to himself. They pressed forward, and Mo Fei remained remarkably steady. He used the headquarters’ terrain to create various obstacles to block the puppets surging from behind, while simultaneously clearing a path for Bai Yu with his two battle axes. He was no longer the reckless brute who only knew how to charge, but a top-tier investigator who understood cooperation and how to protect his comrades.

Finally, they arrived at the gate of the medical area.

The red fog there was so thick it couldn't be dispersed.

"Shen Ling" is leading a dozen or so puppets in a frenzied attack on An Mu's golden domain.

"Captain An, why bother?" Shen Ling's voice came from the twisted head, carrying a chilling electronic tone. "Join us. In the kingdom of the mountain god, there is no pain, no fear, only eternal peace."

"An Ning, you ancestor!" An Mu roared. He suddenly stood up, and his golden domain expanded by a meter in an instant, sending several nearby puppets flying.

But he immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood and his body swayed precariously.

"Director Shen, your dinner seems to be lacking a bit of seasoning."

Bai Yu's voice rang out at the end of the corridor.

Shen Ling stiffly turned his head, a ferocious smile appearing on his distorted face: "Oh... the groom is back. Welcome, welcome."

"Mo Fei, deal with the small fry. Leave Shen Ling to me," Bai Yu said coldly.

"okay!"

Mo Fei let out a long roar, and his two battle axes were finally fully unleashed. The buzzing sound of the high-frequency blades echoed through the corridor, and he charged directly into the group of puppets like a violent whirlwind.

Each of his axe blows precisely avoided the puppet's vitals, yet instantly rendered it immobile. Mo Fei's fighting style was full of powerful beauty, while also maintaining the positive image of an investigator—he was saving, not killing.

Bai Yu held up a red umbrella and walked step by step toward Shen Ling.

The red silk surrounding Shen Ling surged wildly, transforming into countless venomous snakes that lunged at Bai Yu.

"Rule analysis: Same origin."

The runes on Bai Yu's left hand burst forth with unprecedented light. He used the rules of "Red Silk Bride" and "Matchmaker" that he had just collected to forcibly interfere with Shen Ling's control over the red silk.

The silk ribbons that were aimed at him suddenly became obedient and fell to the ground the instant they approached his body.

"This...this is impossible!" Shen Ling screamed in terror. "How did you do that?"

"Because you are just a puppet, while I am the analyst."

Bai Yu flashed and instantly appeared in front of Shen Ling. The tip of the red umbrella pressed against Shen Ling's chest.

"Black Words, swallow him."

"Heh... This kind of inferior work is really disgusting."

Although Hei Yan complained, his movements were anything but slow. The phantom of the nameless ancient book appeared behind Bai Yu, and a tremendous suction force emanated from it.

Shen Ling let out a desperate scream as his woven head began to rapidly disintegrate. The red threads controlling him were forcibly extracted and absorbed by the ancient book.

In just a few seconds, Shen Ling was reduced to a pile of broken bones and tattered uniform.

[Inclusion Progress Update: Red Silk Bride (15%), gained advanced ability: Red Silk Domain.]
Bai Yu felt a powerful force return to his body, giving his exhausted soul a moment of respite.

"Captain!" Mo Fei had finished clearing out the surrounding puppets and rushed to An Mu's side, supporting An Mu who was about to collapse.

"You...you're finally back." An Mu gave a bitter laugh, and the golden aura slowly dissipated. He looked at Bai Yu, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "Bai Yu, Yue Qi is inside...she's already..."

"I know." Bai Yu took a deep breath and looked at the tightly closed isolation room door.

The door slowly opened.

Red mist surged out, transforming into a long red carpet that stretched all the way to Bai Yu's feet.

Lu Yueqi walked out on the red carpet.

Her wedding dress was dazzlingly red, and she held a ruyi made of white bone in her hand, her eyes cold and holy.

"Groom, it's time for the ceremony," Lu Yueqi said slowly. Her voice overlapped, as if countless voices were speaking at the same time.

"Yueqi, wake up." Bai Yu tried to rouse her consciousness.

Lu Yueqi tilted her head slightly, revealing a poignant smile: "Bai Yu... this is my destiny. Only through fusion can I protect you... only by becoming a 'god' can we be together forever."

She raised the ruyi scepter in her hand and pointed it into the depths of the headquarters.

"Boom-"

A deep, resonant bell, seemingly echoing across a thousand years, resounded from the deepest part of the headquarters' underground basement.

That was the headquarters' "forbidden library".

Lan Ce's voice suddenly rang out in the communication channel, filled with terror: "Bai Yu! Mo Fei! Run! The third altar... isn't the headquarters at all! It's that thing sealed in the 'Forbidden Vault'! The Mountain God is using the headquarters' defense system as an altar to awaken it!"

Bai Yu's expression changed drastically.

He felt the ground beneath his feet begin to tremble violently.

Huge cracks began to appear on the thick alloy floor of the headquarters. From within these cracks, countless thick, ancient tree-like red roots were frantically climbing upwards.

"The Crimson Wedding... it's not for the coming of the gods." Bai Yu suddenly realized the truth, "It's for 'sacrifice'! It wants to sacrifice the entire headquarters, including all of us, to that thing!"

Lu Yueqi stood in the center of the red mist, her arms outstretched, letting the red roots envelop her.

“Come... Baiyu... become a part of me…”

Her body gradually became transparent, blending into the surrounding red mist.

"Mo Fei, take the captain away!" Bai Yu shouted sharply.

"Old Bai, what about you?" Mo Fei asked anxiously, his eyes reddening.

"I'm going to the Forbidden Library!" Bai Yu rushed towards the gaping abyss without looking back. "If we don't stop it, Linjiang City will disappear tonight!"

"Damn it!" Mo Fei gritted his teeth, hoisted the unconscious An Mu onto his back, and led the surviving medics toward the power room. He knew that all he could do now was protect these survivors and trust Bai Yu.

Bai Yu leaped into the abyss.

All I could hear was the whistling wind and Hei Yan's maniacal laughter.

"Hahaha! That's right! This is the climax! Go, my friend! Go and shatter that false god's illusion!"

Bai Yu steadied herself in mid-air, and the red umbrella suddenly opened, like a black lotus blooming in a sea of ​​blood, plummeting straight to the deepest part of the earth.

(End of this chapter)